Bioethics

People should not be seen as less than human because they have a disabling impairment.

Stories about the human genetic sciences are always in the news today. Often these encourage negative attitudes towards disabled people.

The genetic sciences see disability and disabling impairments as genetic flaws that should be eliminated.

These attitudes are good when they result in cures. But they are bad when they lead to attitudes that de-humanise the disabled individual.

This is an increasingly complex subject and people are easily convinced by the latest scientific announcement without realising the full implications.

Since 1993, DAA has informed disabled people and our allies about the negative impacts of the new genetic sciences on attitudes to disabled people. We have spoken and written for many international and national gatherings of bioethicists and genetic scientists.

To be human is to be different and difference is not a question of degree or kind. Difference is essential for genetic sustainability and for development.

The DAA publishes the following two papers on subjects related to Bioethics: